ATLANTA (AP) – Gov. Brian Kemp says Georgia recorded $21.2 billion in state-tracked business investments, with new and expanding companies committing to create 51,000 jobs during the year that ended June 30.
The Republican governor, who’s touting his achievements as he seeks a second term against Democrat Stacey Abrams, said that was a new record. Announced investment nearly doubled from the previous record, while announced jobs rose by more than 50%.
“Our success means that hardworking Georgians have every opportunity imaginable to also succeed, and it is what drives our efforts day-in and day-out,” Kemp said in a statement.
In reality, much business investment and many new jobs never get state incentives and are not tracked by the state, which has a $683 billion annual economy. All the announced investment and jobs may not come to pass.
Those totals included 15,000 jobs and more than $10 billion in promised investment connected to new electric vehicle plants planned by Rivian Automotive near Rutledge east of Atlanta and Hyundai Motor Group in Ellabell west of Savannah.